The Smitten Stone

Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.Exodus 17:6

In this passage, we find the people of Israel in the wilderness complaining of a common discomfort, thirst. The Lord told Moses to take his rod, go to the rock at Horeb, and smite the rock. Moses obeyed, and the people’s thirst was quenched. The Lord delighted to show grace to His people, and so their physical needs were met.

The list is long in regard to how the Lord showed His goodness to the Hebrew people coming out of Egypt. Yet, after all the miracles, their hearts were still full of unbelief as they cried out for water. Was there anything that could satisfy them?

The smitten rock produced that which the people desired and needed. It renewed their strength, revived the weary, and satisfied the people. When Christ was smitten of God, He accomplished the work for which He had been sent. He provided a new strength and comfort to weary hearts, and satisfaction to the soul of men. Jesus said of Himself, “if any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink”. The Lord offers satisfaction that the world cannot provide.

“I tried the broken cisterns, Lord, But, ah, the waters failed;
Even as I stooped to drink they fled,
And mocked me as I wailed.”

We cannot taste of the Lord and still be in want. Instead, those who have drunk from the spiritual Rock can agree when the hymn writer says,

“Now none but Christ can satisfy,
none other Name for me!
There’s love, and life, and lasting joy,
Lord Jesus, found in Thee.”